ON-RAMP

In the face of floods, earthquakes and Dodger games, they’re the people who guide motorists safely through the urban maze. But for most Angelenos, the city’s 600 traffic officers are symbolized by that $28 parking ticket under the windshield wiper. And that hurts.

“The most frustrating part of our job is not getting credit for the good things we do,” says Parking Administrator Bob Yates. “When there’s something like the winter floods, the police and the firemen get most of the credit. We’re not out rescuing people; what we do isn’t sexy. But our folks are out in 12-hour shifts directing traffic in rain and hazardous conditions.”

During February’s floods, when traffic signals went down and mudslides closed roads, “nearly 60 officers averaged 5.7 hours of overtime every day in a six-day period,” Yates says.

Choreographing traffic can sometimes be a risky business. “We have people that have been literally run over, had legs broken, feet broken,” Yates says.

Then there’s the mental stress. “When people think they’re not getting to move fast enough,” says Lee Cleveland, 52, an 18-year veteran of the force, “they may start honking their horns, they may even call you a few bad names. Then you just have to remain calm, or at least show you’re calm, and do the job. The main thing is to know what you’re doing and have confidence in yourself.”

And hide your ticket pad.